Game 5 of the 2006 World Series

BillyrayI received two really nice emails today from Cardinals fans, "Marie" and "Derek", both basically saying I ‘had’ to live blog tonight to bring the Cards luck.  While I think it’s sweet, I don’t believe for a second that I’m lucky (this past season’s live blogs will show you that), but who am I to mess with the beliefs of part of the fan base that is thisclose to a World Series Championship?

Sadly, Kevin Kennedy just said the Cards will win tonight.  He doesn’t have much luck with this predicting thing.  Let’s hope this time he’s actually right.

So, here’s the deal, I’m here again live blogging.  Hey, if I wasn’t here, I’d still be watching the game…I’m home, bundled up and fighting off a cold so I might as well make myself useful.  Well, not really useful to anyone but myself and the scattered Cardinals fan, but that’s what a blog is all about, eh?

So, as long as the cold medicine doesn’t knock me out…I’m here for the long haul.  Go Cards!

8:17 – Hey, I forgot Billy Ray Cyrus was singing the National Anthem tonight!  I know he’s the object of ridicule, but he sang "God Bless America" at Fenway this year and did a great job!  I like him.  ๐Ÿ™‚

8:19 – David Eckstein is either singing or talking to himself.  The guy is in perpetual motion.

8:20 – Nicely done, Billy Ray.

8:21 – The idea that this could be the last night of baseball until next season makes me a little blue.  The idea that this could be the last night of listening to Buck and McCarver until next season makes me a little giddy.

8:23 – Someone has a sign that reads "Shock the World" which, of course, reminds me of Kevin Millar.  ๐Ÿ™‚

8:28 – And we’re still on commercials.  Fox hates baseball fans.

8:30 – My how times have changed.  Never thought I’d be actively rooting FOR Jeff Weaver (although I developed a soft spot for him even before the playoffs when he basically got dumped for his brother…)

8:31 – Jeff Weaver is only 30 years old?  Man, it seems like he’s been around forever.

8:32 – Mr. Weaver just dispatched Mr. Granderson mightily.

8:34 – Weaver has two strikeouts.  Hello, Jeff!

8:34 – Joe Buck in regard to Weaver, Joe thinks there are baseball fans ‘just checking him out for the first time".  Oh, Joe, you make me sad.

8:35 – One, two, three top of the first.  Nicely pitched, Jeff!

Logo 8:38 – In googling Weaver, I came across this.  There are just so many funny people in the world.

8:40 – Eckstein makes the first out and the pitching coach’s son has a full count.

8:41 – Verlander walks Duncan to pitch to Pujols.  Well, wouldn’t YOU?

8:41b – Right after Joe Buck mentions that Pujols took Verlander deep at the beginning of this World Series, Verlander throws wildly past Prince Albert, thus allowing the pitching coach’s kid to advance to second base.  You’re a crafty one, Mr. Verlander.  (Interestingly, with first base open they DON’T intentionally walk Pujols.)

8:43 – I suspect, when this series is over, that IRod is going to kick someone’s ****.  ANYone’s ****…just some **** kicking will get done.  He’s been beat to crap this series and now this kid is throwing like some wiggly-armed pre-teen.

8:43 – Pujols walks, bringing up my Cardinals boyfriend Jim Edmonds. 

8:45 – We have three people on the mound trying to calm down Verlander. 

8:46 – Joe Buck is saying that Kenny Rogers isn’t pitching tonight possibly because Leyland didn’t want to subject him to the fans after the ‘controversy’ last night.  Is he for real?  First off, St Louis fans are pretty laid back.  Secondly, it’s the freaking World Series. You pitch the guy you think will win.  You don’t worry about his gentle sensibilities.  Sheez.

8:47 – Verlander went from a 2-0 count to a 3-2 count.  One out, two on…

8:48 – My boyfriend, as Tim McCarver put it, "went after ball four".  Two outs, two on…up comes the Cardinals Scott withOUT the soul patch.

8:50 – Another wild pitch and the runners move up.  Rolen has a 3-1 count and Grilli is up in the bullpen.  Yeah, having Grilli up should do wonders for Verlander’s nerves.

8:51 – Verlander just walked the bases loaded and Leyland so looks like he wants a cigarette.

Sadkid 8:52 – Verlander IS crafty.  He knows the way to win me over.  My heart is breaking for this freaking kid.  Belliard has ball 1 because Verlander tried to haul it into the stands.

8:52 – During the pre-game, Fox showed a piece of an interview with Kenny Rogers where Kenny said he didn’t talk to Verlander about pitching tonight because he "didn’t want to confuse him".  I thought it was a little arrogant at the time, but now I’m beginning to understand what Kenny was talking about.

8:53 – Ronnie Belliard has worked a full count.

8:54 – Wow.  Guillen just saved Verlander’s cheese.  Sorry, Justin, you so don’t deserve that fist pump you just did.  Not after that performance.  No score after one.  For shame, Cardinals.

8:59 – Sean Casey is my Tigers boyfriend.  I’m just saying.  I’m a sucker for the Irish boys.

8:59b – Weaver strikes out Magglio to bring up my new boyfriend.

9:01 – Who strikes out.  Proving I have lousy taste in men. 

9:02 – Another 1-2-3 inning for Jeff.

9:07 – After McCarver talked about how Verlander has probably calmed down, he gives up a hit to Yadi.   And then he gives up a hit, that actually is an out thanks to Inge, to Taguchi.  One out, Yadi on second. 

9:08 – Weaver waves at the ball just to get his at-bat over.  2 outs, one on and Eckstein up.

Errors 9:10 – Eckstein gets to second on a hit and an error on the throw by Inge.  1-0 Cardinals.  You know, before the series started, Rita the Astros fan, wrote in the comments section (in part) that if the Tigers lost it would be because of sloppy play by them.  I gave her a hard time because the series hadn’t started yet and I thought it was being unfair to the Cardinals.  Now, I still think the Cardinals are playing worthy of World Champions…but the Tigers DO seem to be helping them out a little, eh?  Excellent call, Rita.

9:12 – Hitting coach’s son = Rally Killer.  End of 2, 1-0 Cardinals.

9:16 – Weaver gets Polanco out, giving Joe Buck a chance to beat on him for not having a hit in the World Series.  Inge, he of the error that brought the run in last inning, is up.

9:17 – As McCarver talks about how horribly Weaver did this season, he gives up a double to Inge who, Tim McCarver says, has ‘sneaky power’.  He and Scrappy Eckstein should get together.

9:18 – Inge Schminge.  He’s out in the run-down and there are two outs with Verlander on first, instead of Inge on second.  Well fielded, Jeff.

9:20 – Curtis Granderson gets a single to second as Buck moans that Inge took a run away from the Tigers with his boneheaded running skills.

9:21 – Three outs.  Brandon Inge is a couple of hours away from being Bill Buckner.

9:24 – Bottom of the third, Pujols up and Verlander tries to hit him.  Are you kidding me?  Even though I want the Cards to win, I’m kind of glad they’re doing it pretty much (thus far) without Pujols.  I like it when it’s not all about one guy.

9:25 – Pujols smashes one into left.  Apparently he was annoyed either by Verlander pitching too close in or Joe Buck **** about him.  Either way, nice hit, Albert. 

9:26 – And here comes my boyfriend.  Buck better keep his tongue away from him.  Oh, there goes McCarver dissing him "THAT was hittable".  Strike one.  For Edmonds AND McCarver.  Don’t test me.  Dang, 0-2. 

9:27 – Verlander actually DOES look a lot calmer than he did in the first.  That could be bad.

9:28 – And Joe Buck chooses to remind us how St Louis and Detroit both basically tanked at the end of the season.  Thanks for the reminder, Joe.

9:29 – "The Experts are Idiots" reads a sign.  Tim McCarver laughs and Joe Buck says ‘that is well said".  They DO realize they are in that camp as well, right?

9:30 – Strike ’em out, tag ’em out because Pujols was running and then stopped.  2 outs.  Three outs now, 1-0 Cardinals at the end of three.

9:34 – Weaver gets the first out.  Magglio is up and the breeze is blowing through Weaver’s blonde locks.  (Hey, it’s the shot Fox showed!)

Jimedmondsparty9:35 – Jim Edmonds lets Chris Duncan try to catch the ball and, as you can tell by my use of the word "try", he fails miserably. 

9:36 – McCarver is trying to blame my boyfriend.  He’ll pay…OH he’ll pay.

9:37 – Sean Casey is no longer my Tigers boyfriend.  He just hit a two-run homerun.  2-1 Tigers.  We will now beat ‘the error’ to death.  And by "we" I mean, Buck and McCarver.

9:38 – Duncan catches THIS one and there are two outs.  I hope Duncan gets the game-winning hit tonight.  That’ll shut up Buck and McCarver.  HEY let’s show the error again!  Polanco is 0-16, Buck gleefully informs us.  Oh Placido, how nice of you to try and take the heat off of little Duncan.

9:39 – 2-1 Tigers going to the bottom of the fourth.  Come on, fellas, help the kid out.

9:41 – Belliard hits the first pitch right to Monroe to bring up Molina…and then Taguchi and then, possibly, Weaver.  Oh happy day.

9:42 – Joe Buck tries to get Tony LaRussa to blame Jim Edmonds for ‘the error’ and he basically does.  Up yours, Tony.  God, he’s the one thing that makes me NOT want the Cardinals to win.

9:43 – Yadi tells me to stop being such a negative nellie with a single.

9:44 – So Taguchi tells me to have more faith in the bottom of the lineup by also getting a single.  Two on, one out and the pitcher up.  Egads.

9:45 – Does Verlander have special needs?  They seem to baby the heck out of him.

Bengay_1 9:46 – Good lord these men are stupid.  The couldn’t figure out why Ledezma had a rubber glove on when he was OBVIOUSLY rubbing something on his bare arm.  These guys are paid to cover baseball.

9:46 – I honestly can’t believe what I just saw.  On yet ANOTHER  throwing error, this one by Verlander, on Weaver’s bunt…Molina scores.  Game is tied with men on second and third with one out and Eckstein up.

9:48 – Taguchi just scored even though Tim McCarver can’t figure out how.  Fielder’s choice, I’m guessing.  2 outs, Weaver on third.  Time for Duncan to make up for the error.

9:50 – Duncan pops up for the last out while Fox plays "Oops I did it Again’ while showing the errors of the Tigers.  Tigers fans, ther is time to make it to St Louis and beat these guys up, you know.

9:54 – Weaver gets his fifth strikeout.  Here comes Verlander.

9:56 – And there goes Verlander.  Down on three pitches.

9:57 – Tim McCarver thinks he’s being deep by talking about how Detroit hasn’t done the ‘simple’ things.  When this game is over, I plan on watching the dvd of Game 4 of the 2004 WS to mark the day.  I’ll have to listen to see if Buck and McCarver bad-mouth the Cardinals they way they are the Tigers tonight.

9:58 – Tigers leave one on.  Bottom of the fifth coming up.  3-2 Cards.

10:02 – Why don’t McCarver and Buck just come out and say "Man, Verlander ****, doesn’t he???", instead of beating around the bush.

10:03 – Pujols strikes out while tryng to start a fight with Tim McClellan.  Stop showing Pujols while my boyfriend is at bat!

10:04 – Including this at-bat, Edmonds is 4-16 in the World Series.  I sure can pick ’em, eh?

Hockey210:04b – While interviewing Jim Leyland, Joe Buck LAUGHS when asking about the errors.  Jim Leyland should rip off the headphones and shove them down Buck’s throat.  But, he won’t.  He looks like a beaten man right now.

10:05 – End of 5, 3-2 Cardinals.  Well, if the post-season ends tonight, at least I won’t have to listen to John Mellencamp selling out any more.

10:08 – Hey, Joe Buck  likes Sean Casey too!  He just called him ‘red-hot’!  (Guess he doesn’t mean it the way I do, eh?)

10:09 – McCarver having a fit about Duncan still being in the outfield.  Man, I hope Duncan does something good tonight!

10:09b – Jeff Weaver = Defensive Genius.  The anti-Tiger pitcher.

10:10 – "Their hottest hitter, Casey".  Joe Buck shares my crush, I’m sure of it now.

10:11 – Crap.  Duncan just blows the third out.  Hey, the World’s Best Baseball Fans are booing Chris Duncan.  For shame.

10:12 – Worse is that Duncan just proved Tim McCarver right.  I think it’s a sign of the apocalypse.  Official scorekeeper gives Sean Casey a double with IRod up.

10:13 – Strike one.  Okay Jeff, keep it up.  Don’t make this poor Duncan kid the goat. 

10:14 – Strike two.  STRIKE THREE!!!!!!!!  Read these words carefully because I’ll probably never write them again:  I LOVE YOU JEFF WEAVER!

10:17 – Oops.  In my excitement I forgot to mention the score.  3-2 Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth.  Belliard has a 1-2 count and Verlander is still in there.

10:18 – Verlander strikes out Ronnie and now we hear the insight of Mark Mulder on the Tigers’ errors.

10:18b – While we miss Yadi get his third hit!

10:19 – Let’s see those errors again, eh?

10:21 – Taguchi is out, Yadi is on second and Weaver is at bat.

10:22 – Weaver is out…3-2 going into the seventh.

Ist2_902279_baseball_catch 10:26 – WHOA!  Pujols/Weaver = Afreakingmazing!!!!! One out.  Fist pump by Weaver as Polanco does Jason Varitek’s patented "safe at first" sign.  Nope.

10:27 – McCarver claims Weaver’s foot is a size 13 1/2.  Lucky Mrs. Weaver.

10:27 – Two outs.  Jeff Weaver’s favorite show is "Silver Spoons".  I find that very endearing.

10:28 – Alexis Gomez is pinch-hitting for Verlander.  So much for the rookie tonight.

10:29 – Three outs…time for "God Bless America" by "Varcity".  Very nice of the Cards to give some unknowns a few minutes of national tv time.

10:35 – Aided by Guillen’s double-clutch, Scrappy Doo has another hit and Joe Buck tries to get us to vote for Eckstein for MVP.

10:38 – Fernando has a 3-0 count on Mookie’s pride and joy with one already on and no outs…

10:39 – And Preston walks.  Bringing up Pujols.  Pujols has 6 rbi in this series and Buck says that like it is a bad thing.

10:42 – Pujols pops it up.  He’s not so good at this post-season stuff, huh?

10:43 – Speaking of which, here comes my boyfriend. 

10:43 – I wonder if Tim McCarver knows the definition of ‘hyperbole’?

10:44 – Rodney has very pretty eyes.  (Sorry!  But Fox keeps showing them!)

10:45 – Someone made a sign that reads "Retaliate for ’68!".  That was 38 years ago.  Let the anger go, dude.

10:46 – How old is Fernando Rodney?  He looks like quite the young-un.  2-2 count to my boyfriend.

10:47 – Jim Edmonds…take your seat and let the un-soul patched Scott take the plate.

10:50 – Rolen hits it just in front of Ordonez to score Eckstein!  4-2 Cardinals.

10:52 – Belliard ends the inning.  4-2 Cardinals at the end of seven.

10:56  – 1 out in the 8th.  Weaver is still in there but Flores is up in the bullpen.

10:58 – Two outs.  Holy cow.

11:02 – Buck and McCarver were oddly quiet while Weaver struck out Guillen.  They didn’t even say anything going into the commercial.  Did they both go to the bathroom?

Swc11:03 – 4-2 going to the bottom of the 8th.  Hum along to "Sweet Caroline".

11:06 – The series MVP gets a yellow Corvette.  I think Weaver would look good in that thing.

11:07 – Yadi is out number 1.  Fox just showed Jared Weaver yelling "One more" when Jeff left the mound.  Alas, he won’t get to see Jeff pitch ‘one more" because Scott Spiezio is on-deck.

11:08 – Taguchi is out.  They’re blathering on about the errors by the Tigers again.  You know, the bats not getting hits can be blamed for the losses the Tigers have endured thus far as well.  Let’s give some credit to the St Louis pitcher’s eh?

11:09 – The Cards were in a hurry to get out of the 8th inning.  Three more outs, fellas, three more outs.

11:13 – If I was a Cardinals fan, I wouldn’t be able to watch the first two batters of this inning.  Wainwright has a full count on Ordonez.

11:14 – Nice play by Ronnie B!  One out.

11:15 – Sure, show Nate Robertson just to make me feel bad for him.  (He has the rally chew in!)

11:16 – 1-2 to Casey.

11:17 – Don’t lose it Wainwright…full count on Casey.

11:18 – Once again, Sean Casey shows up when the rest of the team doesn’t.  Casey gets a double with one out.

11:19 – Another sign of the apocalypse.  I agree with Tim McCarver.  Leyland didn’t need to take Casey out for a pinch runner.  What was he thinking?

11:20 – 2-0 count on IRod.  Chill out, Wainwright.

11:21 – IRod is out, Casey is still at second.  The St Louis Cardinals are one out away from winning the World Series with 0-17 Placido Polanco at bat.

11:22- Strike one looking.

11:22b – Ball one.  Brandon Inge is on-deck.

11:23 – Pop up…out of play…strike TWO.

11:23b – Low pitch…ball two.  2-2 count.

11:24 – Ball three on a wild pitch.  Moves the runner along to third.  Good God.

11:25 – Quite the outside pitch.  Ball four.  Men on first and third with two outs and Inge up at bat.

11:26 – 0-2 count…my fingers are trembling.

11:26b – HOORAY!!!!!!!!!  Strike 3 on a huge swing!!!!!!  Cardinals win the World Series!!!!!!!!!!!

11:28 – Chris Myers is interviewing my boyfriend.  He says ‘we shocked the world’.  Didn’t shock me, Jim.  Not me.  ๐Ÿ™‚

11:29 – I really feel sorry for the Tigers.  Good team, good group of guys.  But good for the Cardinals for shoving it down everyone’s throat who disrespected them. 

Mlb_g_jweaver_412 11:30 – Edmonds just called his team "idiots" and then said he shouldn’t use that term because Boston did…Two years after they lost the World Series to Boston – they won it…on the same night!

Congratulations to the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals!!!!!  Way to go!!!

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